OFMdFM
14 April 2010
Mrs
Long asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline their
Department’s three main priorities in 2010-11. (AQO 1005/10)
.
. .
Mrs Long: I thank the Minister for his response. Will
he agree that continuation of the progress that has recently been made
on the community relations strategy would be one way of underpinning the
stability of these institutions? It would also make a contribution on
all of the fronts that he mentioned. For example, it would contribute to
tackling social exclusion, poverty and infra structural disparities
and would deliver on some of the promise from Hillsborough.
The
deputy First Minister: The First Minister and I agreed the programme
for cohesion, sharing and integration (CSI) on 23 February 2010. On 15
March, officials circulated the draft document to devolved Departments
and the NIO for the input of policies, programmes and activities that
will translate the principles of the programme into delivery on the
ground. At the same time, the draft document was also forwarded to the
following organisations and bodies for their information: the Committee
for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, the
Community Relations Council, the Equality Commission and the PSNI.
Once
Departments have replied, the draft programme will again be referred to
the Assembly Committee and will be issued to the Executive for final
clearance. The programme will then be the subject of a full public
consultation, which will provide an opportunity for all stakeholder
groups to comment and contribute to its development. The public
consultation is likely to begin in June, after the general election, and
will continue until the end of September. It is tremendous that the
paralysis that existed around the CSI strategy has effectively been
removed and that an agreement has been reached that we must move forward
with all speed in a decisive way to ensure that we deliver for the
entire community.